Roxanne Perez def. Sloane Jacobs
The WWE Universe got a treat in NXT Level Up’s opening bout: a look at two promising newcomers who were each searching for a first WWE win.
With chants of “Roxanne” booming through the NXT Arena, Roxanne Perez frustrated Sloane Jacobs with a bow, then got the edge on her overly aggressive opponent with a pair of arm drags and a headscissors takedown.
Jacobs took the upper hand when she dropped Perez throat-first on the top rope and momentarily slowed the pace, but Perez sealed the win with a leg sweep and a modified sunset flip, which Nigel McGuinness dubbed a Code Red.
Damon Kemp def. Troy Donovan
Though he and Channing Lauren lost their debut match to Andre Chase and Bodhi Hayward last week, Troy Donovan wasn’t about to take a humbler approach into his match with Damon Kemp.
Prior to the bell, Donovan sneered at the WWE Universe and jawed with some fans at ringside, though the amateur standout Kemp hit the squared circle and gave his foe an early lesson in mat grappling.
Kemp also fought through multiple interference attempts from Lauren and planted Donovan with the decisive DK, a unique combination of a suplex and a neckbreaker.
Tatum Paxley def. Kiana James
Hellbent on impressing Ivy Nile and perhaps joining Diamond Mine, Tatum Paxley displayed newfound aggression for her battle with upstart Kiana James.
In fact, Nile helped herself to a better look, coming to the entranceway at the start of the bout and keeping a close eye on the proceedings.
Though her need to impress Nile nearly cost her on several occasions — such as when James rolled her up for a long two-count — Paxley nevertheless sealed the win when she took down her foe with a suplex and a standing senton. Paxley was all smiles after the win, though the stoic Nile appeared mostly indifferent to what she just witnessed.